Connecticut's Family First Implementation Dashboard

Connecticut's Family First Implementation Dashboard reflects the state's priorities related to Family First and creates transparency with external stakeholders.  Connecticut believes that this Dashboard will provide a comprehensive snapshot of the Family First Prevention Services Plan implementation activities.  

Family First Federal Legislation

The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) was signed into law as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act on February 9, 2018. This act reforms the federal child welfare financing streams, Title IV-E and Title IV-B of the Social Security Act, to provide services to families who are at risk of entering the child welfare system. The bill aims to prevent children from entering foster care by allowing federal reimbursement for mental health services, substance use treatment, and in-home parenting skill training. It also seeks to improve the well-being of children already in foster care by incentivizing states to reduce placement of children in congregate care.

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Connecticut's History

The State of Connecticut Department of Children and Families (CTDCF) led a structured and collaborative process to develop a plan that advances a prevention-oriented system.

Over 400 community partners were involved, including parents and youth with lived experience, decision makers throughout state government, community organizations, advocates, and contracted providers. The priority was to ensure that children and families were truly at the center of the work.

Equally important to the inclusion of multiple partners was complete transparency of the process. To that end, a CT Family First webpage was established. All workgroup charters, meeting schedules, meeting minutes and documents used throughout the process have been posted and maintained within the webpage. A mailbox (DCF.CT.Family.First@ct.gov) was established for community partners to ask questions and receive information about our planning.

To ensure cross-system collaboration and decision-making, Connecticut convened a Governance Committee and seven workgroups. The Governance Committee, comprised of CTDCF leadership and state and community partners, served to review evidence and community informed recommendations from each of the workgroups. After engaging in dialogue and receiving feedback to inform decision-making and ensure a connection between the prevention plan and other strategies designed to support children, youth and families, recommendations were provided to the CTDCF Commissioner.

The seven workgroups were co-led by an internal CTDCF staff member and community partners. 

An overview and description of each workgroup is as follows:

Candidacy - The workgroup strategized which populations of Connecticut children and their families were best positioned to benefit from Family First prevention services to address risk factors for maltreatment and prevent entry into foster care.

Community Partnerships and Youth and Family Engagement – The workgroup engaged with parents, youth, legislative officials, community providers, and other state agencies in the planning, development, and communication of Connecticut’s planning process. This engagement included consultation with other state agencies responsible for administering health programs, including mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services, and with other public and private agencies with experience in administering child and family services, including community-based organizations, in order to foster a continuum of care for children who are at risk of foster care entry and their parents or kin caregivers and pregnant or parenting foster youth.

Fiscal and Revenue Enhancement – The workgroup completed fiscal modeling and provided recommendations regarding the fiscal and revenue impact of identified options.

Infrastructure Policy and Practice – The workgroup recommended modifications or additions to current policy, practice, and internal infrastructure to align with the revised model of care under Family First.

Kinship and Foster Care – The workgroup developed core recommendations to increase Connecticut’s ability to support children’s safe, supportive, and nurturing care in the most family like caregiving setting possible when children cannot be with their parents.

Programs and Service Array – The workgroup aligned Connecticut’s vast array of services and programs to the identified needs of the children and families served in candidacy groups, while ensuring a focus on quality services and interventions.

24/7 Intensive Treatment QRTP (Qualified Residential Treatment Program) – The workgroup established expectations to achieve QRTP standards of care and supported providers throughout the planning process leading up to QRTP certification.

In addition to the aforementioned workgroups, the Department was intentional about capturing the parent voice as evidenced by three focus groups in which the emphasis was the caregivers' lived expertise. "Parents as Experts" conversations were designed to actively seek input from families on their perspectives about how services can best be delivered to prevent maltreatment and promote family well-being. The discussions allowed for knowledge to be gathered about:

• What constitutes a good referral and service experience for a family
• How parents wish to be treated when considering and seeking support/when being supported in caring for their children
• What resources and methods engage children and families most effectively

The response to invitations to participate in these sessions was extraordinary. More than 100 families responded, with a total of 44 families being actively involved across all three sessions. Their feedback was thoroughly documented and shared with the Governance Committee. Caregivers appreciated the opportunity to share and express perspectives that were unique to their experiences. Overall themes included:

 

Acknowledgements

We are so grateful to our 400+ community partners who joined us in this work.  Without your expertise and input, the creation of this CT Family First Prevention Plan would not have been possible.

 

Short-Term: Federal Compliance

 To comply with Federal Law, the State of Connecticut must have the following in place:

Residential Treatment Program (QRTP)

QRTP Rules and Regulations

What is CT DCF's QRTP Process?

What is a QRTP?

Rules Governing QRTPs

Links: CT DCF QRTP Fact Sheet
Partnership with CT DSS
How to Become a QRTP
Trauma-Informed Care Documentation

Trauma-Informed Care Model Standards for QRTPs

CT DCF's Trauma-Informed Care Model

Guidelines for QRTP Agencies

 

 

Qualified Individual to conduct QRTP Placement Assessment

CT DCF has sought a waiver from the requirement that a qualified individual conduct the assessment.  The Title IV-E will certify that licensed clinician(s) will be trained to conduct QRTP assessments, ensuring that objectivity shall be maintained in determining the most effective and appropriate placement for a child.  This certification process is required to prevent conflicts of interest in placing children in QRTPs.

 

Medium Term: State-Level Goals

Connecticut has embraced the values and principles of the Family First Prevention Services Act (Family First).  Family First represents a shift in federal policy as it extends the use of Title IV-E funds beyond foster care and adoption assistance to prevention services intended to stabilize families and keep them together.

Federally Approved State Prevention Services Plan

The Connecticut Family First Prevention Services Plan was submitted to the federal government.  Approval is pending.

Link: Draft Prevention Plan

 

 

State-Level Infrastructure to Meet Federal Requirements and Claim Reimbursement

Fiscal and data system.

 

 

 

 

Expansion of Prevention Services Statewide

Connecticut's vision is to expand upon its collaborative child well-being system through enhanced focus on prevention and early intervention. Data will be used to inform the process that will facilitate the development of collaborative strategies to respond to any organizational or systemic challenges that arise. 

 

Long Term: System Transformation

The implementation of Connecticut’s Family First will be an integral landmark on the road to an optimal child and family well-being system illustrative of wide reaching and strengthened community and stakeholder partnerships, attention and integration of the caregiver expertise, racial justice, evidence-based practice and intentional engagement of children, youth, and families to achieve the most optimal outcomes for safety and well-being.

 

Facts, Questions and Answers

CT Family First Planning Archives

 

For more information, questions, and how you can get involved, email us at DCF.CT.FAMILY.FIRST@ct.gov.

 

Upcoming Meetings:

Additional Attachments:

Implementation Guides